Dinner was a large, extravagant affair. When Raleigh and she were
announced, they were greeted with loud applause and cheers. Attaly blushed;
Raleigh smiled and waved. He sat in his throne like chair, gesturing for
Attaly to sit in a similar one beside him. She did so, and the meal began.
Cal and Griffith watched their king, his eyes always on their youngest
sibling.
"It's disgusting," muttered Griffith, his arms crossed.
"As a wolf watches it's pray," Cal quoted quietly.
"Let's leave; I can't watch him anymore!"
"But Attaly…What about her?"
"She'll be fine…and we can check up on her later." They left.
Attaly barley touched her food, but rather kept her hands in her lap, staring at the floor. She felt many eyes on her – no doubt the people inspecting their queen-to-be. One time she glanced up, and saw nearly everyone in the hall looking out of the corner of his or her eyes at her. She also knew Raleigh watched her as well. She stiffened, looking away. When the meal ended, Raleigh waited for everyone to leave – which took a long time, because each person came up to congratulate him, and by royal code, he was required to speak and thank each of them. When finally everyone left, Raleigh stood, and waited for Attaly to do the same. Reluctantly, she stood, and walked beside him. He moved his arm to hold her about the shoulders. She tensed at his grip. They walked along many corridors like that, until finally they came to Attaly's room. Opening her door, Raleigh led her inside. Attaly sat on her bed, expecting Raleigh to leave. Instead, he sat down next to her. Attaly sat rigged. Raleigh moved his arms to hold her. Attaly leaned away from him as he pulled her closer. Her body sagged in his arms. He brought his face within an inch of hers. Watching the fear in her face, Raleigh smiled. He kissed her gently, easing his mouth over hers. The heat of his kiss sent chills down Attaly's spine, making her body limp. Raleigh tilted her head backwards, easing her body to the bed. Raleigh stroked her cheek, straddling her. Attaly turned her head away. Raleigh took her face in his hand, turning her back. He ran a finger across her lips. Attaly clenched her jaw.
"Attaly." He said it quietly, but there was so much heat in his voice that it seemed to resonate about the room.
"You will be my queen. You will love me. You will bear me an heir. Do you understand?" He kissed her cheek, moving his hand slightly to her throat, tightening gently.
"Yes my Lord," Attaly whispered. Raleigh stood, pulling her into a sitting position. He kissed her swiftly, stroking her cheeks. He walked out, leaving Attaly slouched on the bed. No tears would come to Attaly now.
Why me? She wondered. Why does he do this? It's not right! I have done nothing wrong in my life! Nothing at all… She fell into sleep, not seeing the three figures that moved into her room.
"It's disgusting," muttered Griffith, his arms crossed.
"As a wolf watches it's pray," Cal quoted quietly.
"Let's leave; I can't watch him anymore!"
"But Attaly…What about her?"
"She'll be fine…and we can check up on her later." They left.
Attaly barley touched her food, but rather kept her hands in her lap, staring at the floor. She felt many eyes on her – no doubt the people inspecting their queen-to-be. One time she glanced up, and saw nearly everyone in the hall looking out of the corner of his or her eyes at her. She also knew Raleigh watched her as well. She stiffened, looking away. When the meal ended, Raleigh waited for everyone to leave – which took a long time, because each person came up to congratulate him, and by royal code, he was required to speak and thank each of them. When finally everyone left, Raleigh stood, and waited for Attaly to do the same. Reluctantly, she stood, and walked beside him. He moved his arm to hold her about the shoulders. She tensed at his grip. They walked along many corridors like that, until finally they came to Attaly's room. Opening her door, Raleigh led her inside. Attaly sat on her bed, expecting Raleigh to leave. Instead, he sat down next to her. Attaly sat rigged. Raleigh moved his arms to hold her. Attaly leaned away from him as he pulled her closer. Her body sagged in his arms. He brought his face within an inch of hers. Watching the fear in her face, Raleigh smiled. He kissed her gently, easing his mouth over hers. The heat of his kiss sent chills down Attaly's spine, making her body limp. Raleigh tilted her head backwards, easing her body to the bed. Raleigh stroked her cheek, straddling her. Attaly turned her head away. Raleigh took her face in his hand, turning her back. He ran a finger across her lips. Attaly clenched her jaw.
"Attaly." He said it quietly, but there was so much heat in his voice that it seemed to resonate about the room.
"You will be my queen. You will love me. You will bear me an heir. Do you understand?" He kissed her cheek, moving his hand slightly to her throat, tightening gently.
"Yes my Lord," Attaly whispered. Raleigh stood, pulling her into a sitting position. He kissed her swiftly, stroking her cheeks. He walked out, leaving Attaly slouched on the bed. No tears would come to Attaly now.
Why me? She wondered. Why does he do this? It's not right! I have done nothing wrong in my life! Nothing at all… She fell into sleep, not seeing the three figures that moved into her room.